They scared England: How DR Congo rewrote their tragic World Cup history

01.07.26 FT World Cup

England

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DR Congo

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In 2026, the Leopards ended a 52 year exile across North America to secure a historic World Cup knockout spot rewriting their footballing legacy.

A painful introduction

The story of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the global stage began under the name Zaire during the 1974 tournament in West Germany. They proudly arrived as the very first Sub-Saharan African nation to reach the finals.

However, the experience quickly turned into a sporting nightmare. The team crashed out of the group stage with zero wins, zero goals scored and a staggering 14 goal conceded.

They suffered a 2-0 defeat to Scotland, a 3-0 loss to Brazil, and a crushing 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia. For more than half a century, these dismal results have defined their World Cup identity.

Ending the half-century drought

The narrative finally shifted during the grueling African qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. A 100th-minute extra time strike from Axel Tuanzebe against Jamaica secured a 1-0 playoff victory.

This massive result officially ended a 52 year World Cup drought booking their ticket to North America under their modern name, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Shattering the Zaire curse

Once the 2026 tournament kicked off, the Leopards wasted no time erasing the ghosts of 1974. They secured their first-ever World Cup point and goal in a thrilling 1-1 draw against Portugal.

Yoane Wissa’s historic equalizer deep into first-half stoppage time canceling out an early strike from João Neves.

Despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in their next match, goalkeeper Lionel Mbassi was highly praised for a series of heroic saves before Daniel Muñoz's late winner, but the dream remained alive.

The decisive moment came against Uzbekistan. After falling behind early, the Democratic Republic of Congo (the Leopards) rallied to secure a deserved 3-1 victory. Wissa converted a crucial penalty, Fiston Mayele added a second, and Wissa completed his brace in stoppage time.

This victory officially marked the Democratic Republic of Congo's first-ever World Cup win and their first-ever qualification for the knockout stages.

A Valiant English Exit

The historic run ultimately concluded in the Round of 32 against a star studded English side.

Brian Sebaienga sent shockwaves through the stadium by giving the Leopards a 7th minute lead. However, the fairy tale ended when Harry Kane netted a late brace to seal a 2-1 victory for the Three Lions. Despite the elimination, DR Congo left the tournament with their heads held high boasting a completely transformed record of one win, one draw and five goals scored.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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